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The vortex ceaselessly churned—it worked its magic, unseen and mysterious. It was not just Tillie, but Coddlefin, too, who had been taken there after the escape.
The Lady of the Forest, remembering him from long ago, and still sensing a ray of goodness still buried deep within him, had not left him behind. In her wake, as she pulled Tillie into the heart of the forest, she had pulled him to safety, too; then she had given him to the whim of the forest. He had passed through the vortex, pitiful and meek, and there he had remained—evolving, changing, even learning while he healed.
The vortex swirled around Coddlefin as he recovered at the base of the waterfall. The forest had revived him—rewinding time for him, giving him new life, and a new chance.
He, too, had healed within the pool, and now awoke. He drifted within the crystal-clear water, understanding the forest in ways he never imagined possible. He had listened. Now, stretching his legs, he tested the water and swam with the current. Around and around he went, swirling in all directions until he was able to resist enough to make his way back through the passageway to the river.
There he emerged, into the Iveria as a protected inhabitant of Kellandale Wood, ready to discover the powers he now possessed.
Coddlefin could see two girls and a dog resting at the water’s edge by a large tree as he swam past. There were three others off in the distance, and there were other dogs with them. He ducked down and drifted silently, undetected. His eyes remained steadily fixed on them and he felt a seething anger bubbling up inside, though he didn’t understand why. Then, all at once, the memories returned as he swam closer. Scattershot images and thoughts rushed in, enraging him. The circus. The Water Dragon—he had seen it again! And the girl, now he remembered her. Tillie, the one who had taken everything from him. He recognized Henry, and Lina, too.
He recalled the moment on the bridge. He felt the flat of the blade, the pain of the fall, the closeness and panic of suffocation as death circled him. Then came the memory of warmth from another being, feelings of compassion and goodness that he hadn’t experienced in so long he had forgotten them; the feelings had washed over him and infused him as he entered the vortex.
Now free, he fought off those useless, pesky feelings. He wanted back everything that had been taken from him—fame, fortune, adoration, control over everyone. The more he acknowledged these thoughts, the more they festered and grew. His old friend rage returned and he became hungry for revenge at once.
Another memory buried deep in his mind returned as he floated much farther downstream. He recognized the barren landscape now surrounding him, remembering his days of youth he had spent here with Mudd at his side. He knew this particular spot from long, long ago, and he remembered Kellandale Wood. He drifted over, moving deeper into the outer edge of its boundaries, finding a place along the riverbank to exit the river.
Once at the edge of the Iveria, waist-deep in the water, he stood up and looked down at his hands. No longer were they rough and worn, they were much smaller, smooth, and youthful now—just as they were when he was a child. He felt his cheeks and his shoulders. Then he glanced down. As he did, he caught his reflection in the water, cursing when he saw his twelve-year-old face staring back at him. Then he emerged from the water and disappeared deep into the malevolent forest.
Author’s Note
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Themes in this story and principles that inform my writing include animal rights advocacy & activism, kindness & compassion for all living beings, family, friendship & friendship issues, creativity, respect, communication, collaboration, problem solving, mental health advocacy, disability rights, human rights & humanitarian issues, trans rights, lgbtq+ equality & equity, racial equality & equity, social justice principles—equity, access, participation & rights, environmental activism, nature, mother earth & peace.
In a world suffering from greed, threats of animal extinction, social injustice, and threats to the environment, this tale is a reflection on the importance of cherishing our own interconnectedness to nature, to one another, and to all living beings. It’s been my purpose to write a story for a young audience that is hopeful to read, one that encourages kindness, compassion, open communication, the recognition and celebration of diversity, and working with others to enact positive change—told within the context of a fantasy adventure. The story takes place in an imaginary world with fictitious countries, and is set within Eldmoor—a country I envision to have overcome most human-related barriers to equality. In the story, the only social barrier that exists is the unequal access to and control of education.
As a first-time novel writer, my idea of a perfect book is one that celebrates diversity, is inclusive in nature, and is respectful of all readers. I hope I get it right, though I know I may stumble in my early attempts. I am still learning how best to achieve these goals and to express myself in this way, and will never stop trying learn, as I believe that is the only way forward.
There is a world of diversity in children’s literature out there, with diverse voices, stories that reflect the lives of all youth, and authors who get it right writing for representation and diversity. So many of these authors and stories have inspired my own writing. There are many excellent places to help you find them, if you haven’t already, and I urge you to go seeking—both online and in your own library!
At its core, this story is also about the human-animal connection, and the caring and respect for all creatures. The following list includes a few of the many organizations you can explore that are doing amazing things to promote animal welfare and well-being. Each provides support and care for animals in need of help in their own, unique way. ACOC Angel Fund provides services for domestic animals, while Sheldrick Wildlife Trust dedicates their time and resources to aiding wildlife and elephants in Africa, and PAWS provides sanctuary for performing animals. Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and PAWS were also wonderful resources that helped elevate my writing through the knowledge I gained regarding elephant care, and of their body movements, and behavior, and for that I thank them deeply. You can visit the websites of each organization for more information.
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ACOC Angel Fund
Chardon, OH
www.facebook.com/acocangelfund
Animal Clinic of Chardon’s Angel Fund was created to help pets in need with treatable conditions that have no owner or have owners that cannot provide the needed treatment for the pet. Through this fund, we will grow our goodwill, provide educational opportunities to our staff, and help to find loving homes for pets that would have otherwise faced a life of needless hardship.
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Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Nairobi, Kenya
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
Instagram: @sheldricktrust
Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was established more than 40 years ago and is best known for its Orphans’ Project, the first and most successful elephant orphan rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. The Sheldrick Trust is a pioneering conservation organisation, dedicated to the protection of wildlife and the preservation of habitats in East Africa.
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Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Galt, CA
www.pawsweb.org
PAWS captive wildlife sanctuaries care for retired, abandoned or abused performing animals and victims of the exotic animal trade. These captive wild animals live in peace and dignity with absolutely no aversive methods used to maintain them. For more than 30 years, PAWS has been at the forefront of efforts to rescue and provide humane sanctuary for surplus animals providing the space, natural habitat and quality of care which they deserve.
Acknowledgments
This book would have never happened without the input, assistance, and encouragement of so many people. Everyone in my orbit in some way, has touched this project and helped make it become what it is. In short, that is what family is to me. You know who you are! Thank you for this love and support, and I hope you feel it back.
I would like to express my infinite gratitude, love, and thank you’s to my children for their massive amounts of energy, and creative contributions to this story (and beyond), starting when they were very young, when they asked me quite earnestly why The Tales of Henry wasn’t a book yet. I had no good answer, and that’s what got this ball rolling. Thank you for always challenging me, for creating this book with me, and for believing in me. Love you both, this book is for you!
Extra special thank you’s go to my small but mighty family—I love you all. First, to my dad for the original Tales of Henry that began as a series of collaborative bedtime stories, first told when I was a child, that never disappeared, and ultimately sparked this project. I think we knew one day it would become a book! To my mom and step-dad for their never-ending encouragement and their advice and help with the mechanics of writing a novel; to my artist husband who understands how much time and effort is required when a creative endeavor is afoot, for his quiet and steady support, and for graciously providing me an environment that allowed me to work years on end on this epic project; to my sister, who is integral to this story’s creation and existence and for her unwavering support, and to her husband and his sister, all three of them joining in with their infectious positive energy and advice; to my aunt and uncles, my nephews and nieces, and all my cousins and their families for their input and excitement throughout the writing of this story; to my dear grandmother, my in-laws, step-sisters and their families. Also to my dear friends who supported me and acted as a reliable, creative sounding boards over the years as this was being written; to my editor for her discerning eye, pushing my writing and helping to make this book the best it can be; to my trusty beta readers; to my Graphic Design Forum family for all the collaborations and wacky, creative adventures we have shared through the past decade, my Clash blog network of friends, and my Mag6 global sisters; and to all of the generous Kickstarter donors who believed in this project enough to support it and help make it a reality. Thank you—this book is for all of you, too!
In memory of my grandma Maxine, and my grandpas Dave & CD,
who were all loved and are so insanely missed.
As an independent author, your support means more than you can ever know! If you enjoy The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One), every time you tell a friend about it, share a post about it on social media, leave an honest review on online bookstore websites or review sites, or request copies in your local library, you help bring the story to a wider audience. All are ways to help spread the word, and turn enables me to continue writing and creating. Onward to Kellandale Wood (Book Two)!
THANK YOU!
The print version of this book was designed in Adobe Caslon Pro 12pt
Chapter titles set in Brioso Pro
Section headings in Olicana Smooth
What the heck in the world?
Shan L. Spyker loves to make things with words and ink! Her passion for writing was first ignited when she discovered the world of publishing through her love of music, when at age 14, she created her first zine about her favorite band (it was Duran Duran!). Her drive to write, design and publish has never diminished and she’s been ‘zine making ever since that time, originally creating in the traditional cut and paste method using Letraset press on letters, up to current times producing several online publications for creative writing, music, art, and photography. She grew up along the shores of Lake Erie in Northeast Ohio, earning a BA in studio art while working for a screen printer where she learned the process. She later earned a secondary degree in IT focusing on web design and development. Today, her graphic design business Tulip Tree Creative Studios blends all these experiences, offering design and writing services to small businesses, academic publishers, and non-profit organizations, in addition to interior book design services to independent authors, and creating screen printed goods, her true passions.
She lives with her family, all artists and creatives in their own right: her husband and two amazing...kids isn’t the right word anymore, their two very unique felines, and an aquatic frog named Gerard. She wishes she could also be a companion animal owner to an elephant, a water buffalo, and a humpback whale, but since this is impractical, and she recognizes it is best they remain in the wild, she instead supports them through organizations who help take care of those in need. She has deep interest in nature, the environment, the pursuit of animal rights, human rights, and social justice, and these issues strongly influence and inform her art and writing.
Cilantro, rivers and waterfalls, outer space, sandstone hoodoos, and her Faber-Castell India Ink pens are among her biggest little joys in life. Some of her creative influences—artists, authors, musicians, some more recent and some life-long—include Hayao Miyazaki, Jamie Hewlett, Vashti Harrison, Mary Stewart, Grace Lin, Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Campbell, Jason Reynolds, Holly Black, Damon Albarn, Joe Strummer, Jeff Tweedy, and Fatoumata Diawara. The Way of the River is her first full length novel.
For more information and to purchase copies of this book visit
shanspykerauthor.com
This adventure was brought to you by
Tulip Tree Creative Studios
...once upon a time, the end. - PL